It took a special task force of homicide detectives just over 48 hours to track down exterminator Jason Smith at his home in Levittown.
Several hours later, he was charged with tying up Dr. Melissa Ketunuti in her basement, strangling her and setting her body on fire. Police say he came to her home on a house call to get rid of some rodents.
Once inside, "There was an argument, he knocked her down to the ground, got on top of her, he strangled her," said Captain James Clark of the city's Homicide Unit.
Homicide detectives were lead to Smith by surveillance cameras at a local coffee shop and a nearby hospital. He parked his silver Ford F-150 work truck on 18th Street and got out seconds later, as the 35-year-old doctor walked by headed home to meet her exterminator.
"What we saw was the eventual suspect actually following about 30 seconds behind the decedent down 18th Street and then onto Naudain Street," Clark explained.
"He crossed directly in front of a very powerful camera and looked right up at the camera," said Ori Feibush of the OCF Coffee Shop, who helped download the video that cracked the case. "I don't think anyone could believe what they were looking at there. It was so crystal clear."
Police say Smith confessed, telling them he killed Ketunuti after she bossed him around. He used rope to tie her up and strangle her to death. Crime scene investigators found similar rope in the suspect's Crescent Lane home in Levittown.
As to why he set her on fire: "He was attempting to hide the evidence or whatever, DNA we may or may not be able to get," Clark said.
"I'm relieved," one neighbor told FOX 29 after the arrest.
News that Smith was in custody traveled quickly through the slain doctor's neighborhood a few blocks from Rittenhouse Square. Neighbor Mike Shahade said Smith's capture provided at least some relief.
"I'm very pleased," he said. "We were worried there was an intruder, breaking and entering."
"Somebody shouldn't get away with something that stupid," neighbor Victor Pisani told FOX 29.
"We're absolutely grateful they caught the guy so quickly," Feibush said. "It's insane that something like that could happen over here."
Neighbors and top police commanders praised and thanked the task force of homicide detectives who cracked this case.
Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross said "kudos to those guys, they did a great job."
Friday, May 24 2013 5:48 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:48:26 GMT
Surveillance video you'll see only on FOX shows chaos just after a police officer opened fire on a man who witnesses say had his hands up to surrender. Police deny that claim.
Surveillance video you'll see only on FOX shows chaos just after a police officer opened fire on a man who witnesses say had his hands up to surrender. Police deny that claim.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:04 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:04:25 GMT
Veteran narcotics officer Jeff Walker was part of some of Philadelphia's most celebrated drug raids including a huge marijuana bust that netted $1.5 million dollars in pot. Now Walker finds himself on
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:01 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:01:25 GMT
Police sources say the two incidents now under investigation took place at Houston Hall, a student center and lecture hall, on Spruce Street in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania campus.
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Friday, May 17 2013 6:26 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:26:23 GMT
When SEPTA trains roll into stations in Radnor Township, Main Line passengers aren't the only ones getting on and off. Police say criminals are now using the rails to pull off home burglaries.
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Saturday, May 25 2013 11:00 AM EDT2013-05-25 15:00:47 GMT
A South New Jersey business owner comes face to face with a suspected robber threatening him with a knife. Thanks to his 7-year-old family pet, the crook ran off.
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Friday, May 24 2013 7:08 PM EDT2013-05-24 23:08:04 GMT
Busy planning your cook-out or trip down the shore this Memorial Day Weekend? Don't forget about the men and women for whom the holiday is observed.
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Friday, May 24 2013 5:48 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:48:26 GMT
Surveillance video you'll see only on FOX shows chaos just after a police officer opened fire on a man who witnesses say had his hands up to surrender. Police deny that claim.
Surveillance video you'll see only on FOX shows chaos just after a police officer opened fire on a man who witnesses say had his hands up to surrender. Police deny that claim.
Friday, May 24 2013 5:30 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:30:28 GMT
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Saturday, May 25 2013 4:42 PM EDT2013-05-25 20:42:49 GMT
First the Sequester cuts took the American military out of the Jones Beach Air Show and now the cold and rainy start to Memorial Day has washed out the first day of the air show.
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Saturday, May 25 2013 3:39 PM EDT2013-05-25 19:39:36 GMT
Nassau County health officials announced that due to heavy rainfall, 19 beaches have been closed to bathing as a precautionary measure beginning Saturday, May 25.
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Friday, May 24 2013 10:44 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:44:03 GMT
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not-so-perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this Memorial Day weekend following the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy.
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Friday, May 24 2013 9:34 PM EDT2013-05-25 01:34:31 GMT
Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested by New York City police after investigating a report of her allegedly smoking marijuana in the lobby of her Midtown Manhattan building.
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Friday, May 24 2013 9:15 PM EDT2013-05-25 01:15:35 GMT
When workers installed one of the much-heralded bike-sharing stations on West 22nd Street near 10th Avenue, they put it right in front of the brownstones.
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Dr. Melissa Ketunuti was killed Monday. On Wednesday night, police took Jason Smith into custody at his home in Levittown.
